Vacuum cleaning-tool.



E. KENT. VACUUM CLEANING TOOL.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 24.11912.

Patented Apr; 29, 1913.

M. KENT, OF ROME, NEW YDBK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO PAY T. KENT AND ONE-THIRD TO GDRBGN' E. KENT, BOTH OF ROME, N YORK, AND ONE-THIRD 4 T0 BERT M. KENT, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

vacuum cLEaNmdrooL.

medial.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 29, 1913,

. Application filed September 24, 1912. Serial Ito. 722,141.

5 York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vacuum Cleaning-Tools, of which the following is a specification. Thisinvention relates to'vacuum cleaning apparatus and more particularly to tools for cleaning carpets, rugs, etc.

Some of the objects of the invention are to provide a tool adapted to permit a more for less uniform flow of air, and in which the nap ofithe carpet, through which the .air is passing is perfectly free and not held down by the tool, so that the air will agi-, tats" the nap and so. loosen and lift the fibers thereoithat it can penetrate to the warp with suilicient' force to remove any dirt or dust which may have accumulated thereon;

Anotherobjectof the inventionis to provide an improved cleaning tool having a shoe in engagement with the' surface to be cleancdand adapted to permit the body or casing of thetoolfto be rocked, as it is moved over the surface being cleaned, without afiecting the cleaning eficiency of the tool. v

Other objects and the features of novelty will be apparent from the follow ng de scription taken in connection'withthe'accompanying drawings wherein are 1llusinvention.

In "the drawingssFigure l is a perspec-.

tive view of the preferred form of tool; Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the same; Figs 3 is a plan view of the shoe shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary. view similar to Fig. 2 and showing another form of the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, 10 indicates the usual elongated casing or body having an'air inlet 11, in the lower side thereof adjacent the surface to be cleaned. A suction pipe'or tube 12 is connected with the upper part of the casing in any suitable manner as by the threaded collar 13, this collar permitting the casing to .swivel 'or osclllate on the pipe as the tool is moved to and fro over the surface to'be cleaned. I v

A rectangular shoe 14 surrounds the lower end of the casing 10 and is secured trated various practical embodiments of the thereto at its ends by pivots 15, thereby permitting the casing" to be rocked vertically relative to the shoe as the tool is moved, The pivots 15 are preferably arranged directly above th s lower edge 16 of the front wall of the casing so that this edge will be moved substantially parallel with the surface on which the tool rests, when the casing 10 is rocked. The shoe ll rests on the carpet or surface to be cleaned, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and supports the casing -10 with the lower side of the latter slightly above the carpet'or surface. The exterior of the rear wall of the casing iscurvedon a radius from the axis of the pivots 15, as shown 21517, and the inner surface of the adjacent side of the shoe 14 is correspondingly formed to provide a sliding joint be-- tween'the shoe and the casing at this point. The front side of the shoe is spaced from the casing to provide a downwardly direct-- ed air inlet 18 which extends the full length of the casing. This air inlet may be of any suitable cross-section, but is preferably as shown in Fig. 2 so that the flow of air therethrough will not be affected by rocking the casing 10 relative to the shoe.

In the operation of.the tool-it is movedover the carpet or surface to be cleaned and the 'air, being drawn through the inlet 18, into the interior of the casing 10, by the suction in the pipe 12, will be projected With considerable force against the surface being cleaned, directly below the inletv l1 and the front wall of the casing, and thoroughly scour the'surface and carry away the dirt therefrom. When the tool is used on a carpet or rug having a nap or pile as indicated in Fig. 2, the distance between the front and rear sides of the shoe permits the nap. under the casing 10 to be free so that the current of air through the inlet 18 in striking the the nap by the air. As the tool moves over the carpet the rear side of, the shoe smooths out the nap and the carpet is given a bright sleek appearance.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, the

casing 27 has a shoe 26 pivoted thereto, at

the ends of the. casing and with the front and rear longitudinally extending portions spaced from the front and rear walls of the -casing to provide the air inlets 2S and 29,

these inlets being similar in function to the inlet 18, shown in Fig. 2. It will be observed that the inlets 28 and 29 are in downwardly converging relation so that the streams of air which enter through these inlets will be directed beneath thelongitudinal edges of the casing and unite in the casing inlet, and therefore, the tool will be equally effective when moved in either direction.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1-. In avacuum cleaning tool, a casing having a long narrow inlet, at the bottom thereof, and a suction pipe connection, means pivoted at the ends of the casing and adapted to engage the surface to be cleaned and support the lower edges of the longitudinal walls of the casing above said surface to-perlnit the. casing to be rocked and to provide a free passage for airunder the lower edge of one of said walls, and means movably fitting the other of the longitudinal walls'of the casing and engaging said surface to prevent air from passing .throitgh the space between the lower edge of the said wall and said surface to said inlet.

2. In a vacuum cleaning tool, an elongated casing having a long narrow inlet in the lower side thereof and a suction pipe connection, means pivoted to said casing and having portions arranged'substantially parallel with said inlet, on opposite sides of the latter, adapted to engage the surface to be cleaned and support the lower edges of the casing and said inlet above said surface, and there being provided an air inlet along the inner side of one of said portionsadapted to directa current of air downwardly against said surface and below the lower edge of the casing.

3. In a vacuum cleaning tool, .an elongated casing having a long narrowinlet in the lower side thereof and a suction pipe connection, .a shoe surrounding the lower endvof said casing and-pivoted thereto and having portions arranged substantially parallel with said inlet, on opposite sides of the latter,-adapted to engage the surface to be cleaned and support-the lower edges of said casing and said inlet above said surface, and an air inlet being provided be.

gated casing having a. long narrowinlet in the lower side thereof and'a suotion'pipe connection, a shoe surrounding the lower end of said. casing and pivoted thereto at its ends and having portions arranged substantially parallel with said inlet, on opposite sides of the latter, adapted to engage the surface to be cleaned and support the lower edges of said casing and said inlet above said. surface, and there being provided an inlet between one of said portions and a wall of said casing adapted, to direct a current of air downwardly against said surface and below the lower edge of said wall,'the other of said portions closely fit-' ting a wall of said casing.

In a, vacuum cleaning tool, an elongated casing having a long narrow'inlet in the lower side thereof and'a suction pipe connection, a shoe surrounding'theglower end of said casing and pivoted thereto at its ends over the lower edge of one wall of the casing and having portions arranged substantially parallel with' said inlet; on opposite sides of the latter, adapted to'engage the surface to be cleaned and sup ort the lower edges of said casing and sai inlet above said surface, and there being provided a downwardly tapering air inlet between one of said portions and said wall adapted to direct a current of air downwardly against said-surface and below the lower edge of said'wall to said casin inlet, the other of said portions closely fitting the wall of said casingon the opposite side of said casing from said first mentioned wall.

In testimony whereof I afiixmy signature witnesses.

in"v presence of two EUGENE M. KENT.

lVitnesses:

L. N. FLACK, JOHN F. VJILLIAMS;

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

